BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- During the past decade, China has seen notable progress in boosting the high-quality development of foreign trade amid its efforts to build an open economy, with the trade volume continuously expanding and structures improving.

The total imports and exports of goods have climbed from 24.4 trillion yuan (about 3.6 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2012 to 39.1 trillion yuan in 2021, further consolidating China's role as the world's largest goods trading country, Wang Lingjun, deputy head of the General Administration of Customs, said at a press conference Friday.

Wang noted China has remained the world's largest goods trading country for five consecutive years since 2017. He added the country's foreign trade showed greater competitiveness, played a bigger role in driving economic growth, and established a stronger foundation for long-term sound development.

Here are some highlights of the country's efforts in sustaining the development of foreign trade and leveraging its role in advancing high-level opening-up.